Articles: health.
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Eur. J. Intern. Med. · Oct 2024
Letter Observational StudyMulti-organ abnormalities assessed by a single MRI scan in individuals with blood cancer.
During the COVID-19 pandemic individuals with all blood cancers were classified as clinically vulnerable and at high risk of complications and death. Our study sought to determine if individuals with specific blood cancers were at a heightened risk of longer term organ impairment, secondary to SARS-CoV-2 infection. ⋯ A multi-organ MRI platform offers the capacity to accurately evaluate organ health dynamically in blood cancers and detect asymptomatic organ impairment. The application of multi-organ MRI could aid early detection and longitudinal monitoring of organ impairment, potentially guiding more personalised treatment strategies and improving clinical outcomes in many rare diseases.
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Income inequality is associated with poor health outcomes, but its association with colorectal cancer is not well-studied. The authors aimed to determine the association between income inequality and colorectal cancer incidence/mortality in U.S. counties, and hypothesized that this association was mediated by deprivation. ⋯ Much of income inequality's association with colorectal cancer outcomes operates through deprivation. Rural counties have a stronger association between higher income inequality and higher mortality, which works in tandem with deprivation.
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The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in greater use of remote patient monitoring (RPM). However, the use of RPM has been modest compared to other forms of telehealth. ⋯ To encourage ongoing growth of RPM, it will be necessary to address implementation barriers through changes in payment policy, training and education in digital and health literacy, improvements in staff roles and workflows, and new strategies to ensure equitable access.
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Federally Qualified Community Health Centers (FQHCs) are on the frontline of efforts to improve healthcare equity and reduce disparities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study assesses the provision and equity of preventive care and chronic disease management by FQHCs before, during, and after the pandemic. ⋯ While preventive screening and chronic disease management in FQHCs have largely rebounded to pre-pandemic levels following an initial decline, persistent disparities highlight the need for targeted interventions to support FQHCs in addressing healthcare inequities.
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Imbalances between hospital caseload and care resources that strained U.S. hospitals during the pandemic have persisted after the pandemic amid ongoing staff shortages. Understanding which hospital types were more resilient to pandemic overcrowding-related excess deaths may prioritize patient safety during future crises. ⋯ Intramural Research Program of the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center.